Standards and Practices Overview

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), through the provision of academic accommodations and related services, acts as a resource for faculty and staff, and provides campus accessibility for students and the community as regulated by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, its amendments, and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The College of Lake County is committed to provide equal opportunity in accessing the benefits, rights and privileges of college services, programs and activities for every qualified student with a disability.

The College of Lake County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability or unfavorable discharge from military service.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 states that:

“No otherwise qualified person with a disability in the United States…shall solely by reason of…disability, be denied the benefits of, be excluded from participation in, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”

Reasonable accommodations and services are available for students, staff and visitors with disabilities in accord with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its subsequent amendments.

Eligibility: Who is a Person with a Disability?

To be eligible for academic accommodations through OSD, students must register with our office and disclose their disability. Once an application and consent form are filed with our office,the student may provide OSD with documented evidence of a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, and/or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Under those regulations, a person is considered an individual with a disability if:

a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one of more major life activities (such as walking, standing, seeing, speaking, hearing, sitting, breathing, reading, learning, thinking, performing manual tasks, taking care of oneself);

has a record of such an impairment; or

is regarded as having such an impairment.

Establishing Eligibility, Documentation and the Process for Obtaining Accommodations

Accommodations at post-secondary institutions are not made based on diagnosis (or having a disability) but more on how the disability substantially affects the individual.

OSD follows the Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) guidelines for obtaining accommodations. The process begins with the formal disclosure of a disability via application with the OSD. A student applies for accommodations and fills out the appropriate consent forms. It is at this time that a student may supply OSD with documented evidence of the disability if available. Such documentation would be reviewed and ameeting established between the student and a specialist from OSD to discuss accommodations and obtain the student’s personal narrative on how the disability may affect him/her. The specialist uses their professional judgment in assessing their interaction and interview with the student, which may lend weight to the determination of the accommodation(s).

Additionally, documented evidence of the disability in certain circumstances may be necessary to provide specific accommodations. It is the sole discretion of the OSD to request documentation from the student. The burden to supply evidence of disability, via documentation, is borne by the student as well as associated costs. Documentation is examined by a member of the OSD team, and evaluated for evidence of disability and the disability’s limitations on the individual. This information is used in order to determine what appropriate accommodations, academic modifications, and/or assistive technology are necessary to ensure full participation.

Process for Obtaining Academic Accommodations

A student with a disability who requires an accommodation must seek assistance from OSD in a timely manner. It is recommended that requests be made prior to the beginning of classes or as soon as a need becomes known. Some accommodations require significant prior notice (e.g., the conversion of books to audio, interpreting services or captioning) OSD makes no guarantee that last minute requests for accommodations can be provided.

The student may be required to provide documentation of his/her disability and how it limits his/her participation in a service, program, course, activity, or facility at the College.

OSD and the student will discuss and determine the reasonable accommodation(s).

OSD will outline the process for receiving the reasonable accommodation and will present this to the student via the Instructor Notification Form (INF). This form will outline the accommodations of which the student is eligible.

The student will present this INF to each instructor on or about the beginning of the class, or at their first opportunity.

A student will be responsible for contacting OSD if reasonable accommodations are not implemented in an effective or timely way. OSD will work with College personnel and the student to resolve disagreements regarding recommended accommodations.

A student is required to reapply with OSD each semester to ensure timely accommodations.

Purpose of Academic Accommodations

The purpose of an academic accommodation is to provide student access to information.

Accommodations must not substantially alter the integrity of the class, lower entrance requirements or academic standards, nor be ‘unreasonable’ in scope.

Accommodations do not ensure success, they provide access.

Accommodations are provided to students that are substantially limited by a disability as defined by law.

Accommodations are designed to offset the limitation and therefore provide a ‘level playing field’ at which to participate in post-secondary education.They do not provide the student with an advantage over other students.

Privacy Practice

OSD keeps all information private as required by law.

OSD staff members do not approach students outside of the office to initiate conversation or otherwise recognize OSD students.

OSD may speak with instructors regarding accommodations, but will not divulge the disability to instructors without the expressed consent of the student.

OSD will not forward disability related information to other institutions without the expressed consent of the student.

Any disability related documentation that is received by OSD remains private and cannot be shared with other departments or individuals, except in cases required by law.

OSD reserves the right to disclose disability related information with the Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) in cases involving the student, including but not limited to cases of threat assessment, or in circumstances required by law.

Grievance Procedure

Should a student wish to file a grievance related to receiving an accommodation, they may contact the Director of the Office for Students with Disabilities at 847-543-2473. Alternatively, students may also file a grievance with the Dean of Counseling, Advising and Transfer at 847-543-2359.

Should a student wish to discuss improper treatment or feel they are victim to discrimination, they may file a grievance with the Associate V.P. of Student Development at 847-543-2048.

The College of Lake County seeks to prevent harassment and discrimination from occurring. College policies and procedures afford the investigation and resolution of complaints. The College of Lake County remains committed to resolving grievances and/or disagreements regarding academic accommodations. Any student wishing to file a grievance should contact the office of the Associate Vice President for Student Development at (847) 543-2048.

For the purpose of mailing written complaints, the mailing address is: Associate Vice President of Student Development, College of Lake County, 19351 W. Washington Street, Grayslake, IL 60030.

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A.A., ’14, transferring to Concordia University to study nursing.

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CLC 2014-15; now an industrial engineering major at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

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College of Lake County, ’07; B.A., Northeastern Illinois University ’10, now a copy editor for Shaw Media.

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A.A.S., Paralegal Studies, ’13; now working on a bachelor’s degree at Roosevelt University.

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Mechatronics technology student; planning to earn a certificate in 2016.

Stephen Cartwright

A.A., ’11; BA, Trinity International University, ‘13.

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Tijuana Ewing

Certificate in mechatronics technology, '15.

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A.A.S., hospitality and culinary management, '15; plans to earn an A.A.S. in baking and pastry arts in '16 and become a baker.

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Lynn Harper

Instructor, communication

“I use many different teaching methods, including: journaling, readings, oral quizzes, in-class and out-of-class activities, role plays, group discussion, media, group work and providing many examples.”

Patrick Gonder

Instructor, English

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Tamara Wolff

Instructor, English

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Diane Wolter

Instructor, early childhood/elementary education

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Bill Kellerhals

Instructor, laser/photonics/optics

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Mick Cullen

Instructor, human services

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Shanti Chu

Instructor, philosophy

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John North

Instructor, computer information technology

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Chris Utecht

Instructor, criminal justice

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Gayle Miller

Instructor, paralegal studies

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Elisabeth Martin

Instructor, biology

“I consider the needs of students every time I plan activities and goals for class. As a result, I utilize multiple teaching strategies, from lecture to a small-group critical thinking activity. In addition, I set and communicate high expectations and teach students how to successfully reach these goals.”

Bob Remedi

Instructor, biology

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Jeanne Simondsen

Instructor, chemistry

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Jeffrey Andrews

Instructor, mathematics

Kimberly Boyke

Instructor, mathematics

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Donna Carlson

Instructor, mathematics

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Amy Curry

Instructor, mathematics

Tracey Hoy

Instructor, mathematics

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Lance David

Instructor, automotive technology

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David Groeninger

Instructor, history

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Instructor, history

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Instructor, psychology

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Instructor, psychology

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Instructor, sociology

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Instructor, sociology

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Instructor, sociology

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